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Burglary suspect: 'Crime pays'

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Published: April 7, 2011 at 3:32 PM

KEY HAVEN, Fla., April 7 (UPI) -- Authorities in the Florida Keys said they arrested an 18-year-old burglar who posted "crime pays" to his Facebook page.

The Monroe County Sheriff's Office said a husband and wife who are both Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents reported their Department of Homeland Security vehicles had been burglarized late March 16 or early March 17 and the culprit took a digital camera from one car and a badge, gun belt, handcuffs, baton, pepper spray, bullet proof vest and a wallet from the other.

Investigators said they found a credit card from the stolen wallet was used for a March 17 PayPal transaction and they traced the computer used to make the payment to the Key Haven home where Ryan Tomita, 18, lives with his parents.

Detectives said they checked Tomita's Facebook page and found a posting from March 17 reading, "If you ask me Ima tell you crime pays."

Deputies searched the home April 5 and discovered the stolen property from the ICE agents' vehicles as well as a cache of stolen property from numerous other burglaries. Tomita admitted to multiple burglaries of unlocked cars and using screwdrivers to break into homes.

Tomita was arrested and charged with three counts of vehicle burglary and one count each of theft, theft of law enforcement equipment from an emergency vehicle, possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Investigators said more charges are likely as the investigation continues.

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